I hope you’re following along with this month’s Psalms and Proverbs reading plan. I’ve worked through this plan many times over the years, and the Lord has consistently used it to refresh my soul and renew my perspective. Something from the very first day’s reading has stayed with me all week. So, I thought I would share how the Lord has used it in my life this week.
Proverbs 1:32b says,
“…and the complacency of fools destroys them.”
This stopped me in my tracks, and I found myself asking, “Have I become complacent in my pursuit of the Lord? Have I been slacking in seeking Him?”
Those questions didn’t simply arise out of nowhere. I’ve been wrestling with several things lately, and I’ve learned that when frustration, anger, self-pity, or discouragement begin taking root, I can almost always trace them back to drifting in my pursuit of the Lord.
Complacency can be spiritually dangerous. When we allow ourselves to slip into a passive mindset, instead of intentionally seeking Him through His Word, prayer, and fellowship, we drift. Our discernment grows dull, leaving us vulnerable to deception. We become more susceptible to following the desires of our flesh rather than submitting to God’s truth.
Spiritual complacency often reveals itself in ways like these:
- Neglecting daily fellowship with the Lord and a diminished hunger for Scripture and prayer.
- Tolerating sin in our lives. For me, I am alerted to complacency when I begin to focus on the sins and failures of those around me, and not so much in examining my own heart.
- Becoming increasingly drawn to worldly comforts and pursuits, rather than eternal priorities.
Scripture warns us to be vigilant because we are all prone to the danger of drifting into complacency.
Hebrews 2:1 says,
Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
2 Peter 1:10 says,
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us,
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
For from it flow the springs of life.
So how do we guard against the danger of complacency as believers?
- Make time – schedule time – to be in the Word every day. Scripture reveals the motives of our hearts and reorients us to the Truth.
I have stored up your word in my heart,
That I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
- Cultivate an intentional, active prayer life that includes confession of sin, and thanksgiving.
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
- Pursue accountable relationships with other believers who speak the truth in love and point you to Christ.
And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Fast forward to today’s Psalm reading, Psalm 19:7-11 sums up beautifully the necessity of anchoring our hearts in the Word of God daily. In verses 7-9 David describes God’s Word in several ways—law, testimony, precepts, commandments, and rules. He also highlights the perfection of God’s Word. It revives the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. And in verses 10-11 we see that God’s Word is more desirable than the best riches and brings more pleasure than the finest delicacies.
In a world of social media, entertainment, and constant onslaught of information that surrounds us, it is easy to drift and unknowingly untether ourselves from the one thing that we need most. The question is: What do we treasure most in our hearts?
The Lord has used these first few days of this reading plan to expose areas where I have slowly drifted toward complacency. But He has also reminded me of something even greater: His Word truly revives the soul. When we return to it with humble hearts, He is faithful to renew our minds, restore our joy, and draw us back to Himself. That is exactly what I am praying He continues to do throughout this month.